HARTFORD, Conn. – The Trinity College men's and women's cross-country teams are set to return to their home course at Wickham Park in Manchester, Conn., on Saturday, November 14, as the Bantams prepare to host the 2026 NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Cross Country Championships. The championship will feature some of the region's top Division III programs competing for a chance to advance to the NCAA Division III National Championships. 

The Bantams return to Wickham Park for the first time since opening their 2026 campaign at the George Suitor Invitational in September. Trinity enters the regional championship following its appearance at the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championships on October 31. Both the women's team and men's team are ranked 10th in the Region coming into the Championship. 

CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION 

• Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026 
• Location: Wickham Park | Manchester, Conn. 
• Host: Trinity College 
• Women's 6K: 11:00 AM 
• Men's 8K: 12:00 PM 
• Championship Central: 2026 NCAA DIII Mideast Regional 

WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW 

• The Bantams enter the regional championship led by seniors Paige Jaenicke and Ava Del Vescovo, who have consistently paced Trinity throughout the fall season. 
• Jaenicke led Trinity at the NESCAC Championships, crossing the finish line in 30th place with a 6K time of 22:15.7, while Del Vescovo followed in 39th place, clocking 22:38.7. The duo secured a pair of top-40 finishes for the Bantams. 
• Earlier in the season, Jaenicke and Del Vescovo both posted sub-22-minute finishes at the Connecticut College Invitational, with Jaenicke clocking 21:47.1 and Del Vescovo finishing in 21:53.8. 
• First-year Maile Shinmoto has also been a key contributor for Trinity, finishing third among the Bantams at the NESCAC Championships with a time of 23:57.0. Fellow first-year Cassidy Bruno has made a late season push, and sophomore Nora Butterly has shown impressive growth in her first cross country season for the Bantams. 

• Sophomore Lysander Duffield looks to lead the Bantams into regional competition after pacing Trinity at the NESCAC Championships with an 8K time of 26:25.5. 
• Fellow sophomore Nielsen Kasser has also been a consistent contributor throughout the season, leading Trinity at the Connecticut College Invitational with a time of 25:46.1. Kasser followed Duffield at the conference championship, clocking 26:42.4. 
• Junior Tyler Johnson has returned to form for the Bantams' lineup, finishing third for Trinity at the NESCAC Championships with a time of 26:52.1. 
• Junior Jack Blanchfield and first-year Brian Smith rounded out the Bantams' top five at the conference championship, while senior Dolan Pols and first-year Tommy Basinger have consistently contributed to Trinity's performances throughout the fall. 

"We are very excited to bring the NCAA Regional Championship to the home of Trinity cross country and the home of Connecticut cross country, Wickham Park. Despite Wickham's history as a cross country meet site, this is the first time ever for these renditions of the 6k and 8k at Wickham and the first ever regional meet hosted by Trinity. Our Bantam competitors are looking to have their strongest finish as a complete women's and men's program in many years in front of a hometown crowd!" 

Coach Mason 

ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP 

• The NCAA Division III Mideast Regional serves as a qualifying competition for the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Cross Country National Championships, scheduled for Saturday, November 21, at the Bill Huyck Championship Cross Country Course in Northfield, Minn. 
• The top team from each of the NCAA's 10 regions earns an automatic berth to the national championship, with an additional 22 teams selected through the at-large process. 
• The first seven individual finishers from each region who are not members of qualifying teams will also advance to the national championship. 
• The top 35 individual finishers in each regional race will earn USTFCCCA All-Region honors. 
• The Mideast usually produces multiple at-large team bids to the NCAA Championship and is consistently one of the most competitive regions in the country.  

UP NEXT 

The Bantams will look to extend their postseason campaigns with strong performances at their home course on Saturday. NCAA Division III National Championship selections will be announced Sunday, November 15, with the national championship races scheduled for November 21. 

TRINITY ATHLETICS